A Full Face Transplant Removed This Deadly Bundle of Blood Vessels

This 3D scan shows a tangle of abnormal blood vessels beneath a patient’s skin. Their presence caused speech and vision problems, and were in danger of rupturin, which could have ended his life. Now, they’ve been removed during the course of a full face transplant.

During surgery performed in February, by Joan-Pere Barret and a team of 45 medical staff at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, a 27-hour operation saw the patient’s face almost entirely reconstructed. His lower face, neck, mouth, tongue and pharynx were all rebuilt, removing the blood vessel growth of over 20 years.